The last time 44-year-old Rajesh saw blast victims was more than 10 years ago when a bomb went off in front of a cinema in Panipat. Several people were killed and injured, he remembers. He was there then, rushing the injured to hospital. Now, he’s here to dig graves for a daily wage, along with 14 others.

“The last time when I rushed the injured to hospital, I earned punya. This time also, by digging the graves of the victims I have done some good work,” he says, which earns him Rs 150 a day. Muslims from nearby join the diggers to finish work in time for the mass burial today.

Security at the site was tight, with Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Ajay Chautala joining final prayers.

The namaz had to be read twice as locals who were restricted behind the barricades wanted to join in the last rites.

Imam Maulana Mohammad Asghar Qasmi who was called from Ambala for the rites says it was a burial that presented difficulties. Most of the 23 bodies could not be arranged according to religious specifications and were left wrapped in plastic covers as they might have to be exhumed once the DNA test results come in. Six members of a family were buried yesterday since they had been identified.

All bodies were buried in the southern corner of the graveyard, which now carries a plaque marking the Samjhauta Express tragedy. At the head of each grave is a pillar mentioning the number of the body.